Commodity Exchange?

First, we have paid $7. for 10 lbs of potatoes to $3; current price at a local No Frills: https://www.nofrills.ca/en/food/fruits-vegetables/fresh-vegetables/potatos-onions/potatoes/c/34508, around $5 for 10 lbs.

Canada grows Potatoes, why the variability? Particularly, in a non-growing season? The Grocers are scamming us, I swear. Market supply and demand interpretation doesn’t work when the majority of our stuff goes to the States without competition. And, arguably, there is a constant supply….or, a very limited market.

Fluctuation in transport costs? Not enough to justify such price disparity over such a short span of time when you think about it.

So

Anyone read the story about potatoes in the Financial Post, yesterday: https://financialpost.com/feature/america-needs-canadian-farmers?

Notice anything?

To quote: On the flip side, what Canadian farmers grow and export south is incredibly important for American consumers, a generally well-fed bunch who annually gobble down billions of dollars’ worth of agricultural products from north of the 49th parallel and open presents in the presence of Canadian-grown Christmas trees. As a result, there will be plenty of pain to go around as Donald Trump ramps up his trade war, but Canadians would not be alone in feeling the hurt.

Only one farm is cited, and the article is more about trade that exists between Canada and the US rather than TRADE that could serve International markets. It has a lot of pro-Trump nonsense with recognition NAFTA is supposed to be a good deal, which it isn’t. The well written Conner piece, noticeably cites the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph: Canada is an agricultural superpower,” Evan Fraser, director of the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, said. “If any country is poised to benefit from a changing climate — and a growing global population — it is Canada, with its capacity to increase its production, feed the world and grow its exports.

Where have I heard that before?

But, I do think Professor Evans is right: Canada IS a commodity superpower. (think DIVERSE products) Additionally, we’re smart, super smart; anyone notice the articles on AI in Toronto and Waabi?

More importantly, and relevant, the week before Christmas, the Financial Post also had this article:https://financialpost.com/business/diversifying-trade-away-from-the-u-s-to-be-a-hot-topic-at-western-canada-forum

Most Farmers recognize we need to diversity from reliance solely on the Americans.

STEP out of Saskatchewan, for example, is trying for a broader market: https://sasktrade.com/.

Unlike most Canadian Provinces which send 75% of their products for trade south, it only sends 60%. It’s trying to expand. Have I mentioned Tommy Douglas came from Saskatchewan: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/tommy-douglas ? Just because Socialists care about People does not mean they are blind to how business operates.

But, the point is to diversify markets. And: STABILIZE prices.(that makes me think of Tiff and his bs)

There is a certain absurdity of lamenting lost American trade because of the American President Trump’s tariffs rather than recognizing without CUSMA, Canada could compete with the whole world.

And, why the BRICS wheat exchange is such an intriguing idea. Mind, I am wary of the OPEC comparisons. And, I am not sure if Exchange is another way of saying Monopoly. But, I like the idea of a World market for Wheat in which we certainly can compete, and are well able to.